British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Sets New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $39.94 and last traded at $39.93, with a volume of 27272 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $39.74.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BTI. UBS Group raised British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Barclays raised shares of British American Tobacco to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 1.0 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $37.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at $77,000. Access Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 34.4% in the fourth quarter. Access Investment Management LLC now owns 15,620 shares of the company’s stock worth $567,000 after acquiring an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its position in British American Tobacco by 12,414.2% during the 4th quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 22,901 shares of the company’s stock worth $832,000 after purchasing an additional 22,718 shares during the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 72.7% in the 4th quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 47,704 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,733,000 after acquiring an additional 20,084 shares during the period. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 19.0% in the fourth quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 13,417 shares of the company’s stock worth $487,000 after purchasing an additional 2,141 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It also offers vapour, heated, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands.